Hose-coupling.



G. B." CLAY.

' HOSE COUPLING.

APPLIOATION'IILED we. 9, 1909.

946,935. Y Patented Jan. 1910.

GEORGE E. CLAY, OF J ENKINTOWN PENNSYLVANIA.

\ HOSE-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

Application filed August 9, 1909. Serial No. 512,099.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. CLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jen kintown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hose- Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to couplings, and is in the nature of an improvement in what are known as Clay-Jones hose couplings in common use in municipal fire departments and elsewhere. The characteristic feature of such couplings is a pair of side jaws or clamps 011 one member which engage an annular flange on the other. Heretofore a small pick has been employed for opening these jaws in uncoupling, and it has been suggested to use a. lever construction. Neither of these expedients is satisfactory in practice however, the former because it involves the use of a separate part which is particu larly liable to be lost or mislaid, and the latter because a lever is liable to become clogged with mud and ice in winter and thereby to become absolutely inoperative.

According to the present invention, I shape the jaws in a peculiar manner, by extending the side metal so that they can be opened by means of a variety of tools; the shape being such that there is no danger of clogging or freezing under any conditions, and in the absence of tools the fingers will suffice.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view of a complete Clay- Jones coupling embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a face view of one, jaw detached. Fig. 3 is a side view of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1, A is one member of the coupling, and B is the other. The member A has a flange a within which an annular seat is provided for the bearing face 6 of the member B. Above this hearing face an annular groove 6 is formed, leaving a projecting edge or flange 5 which when the members are joined, is engaged by the edges 0 of the jaws C. These jaws or clamps are normally held in operative position, with their upper ends pressed forward, by means of phosphor bronze springs, and when necessary to open them, what is known as a hose pick o-r key has usually been employed, which would have to be carried by every person liable to require its use.

The sides of the aws have heretofore been cast plain, since any projections form lodging places for mud and ice, besides being subject to breakage. I have found, however, that by extending the metal on each side of a jaw as shown at c, and curving the outer surface in a way I shall presently describe, the efliciency of the device is practically unaffected either indoors or outdoors, and the use of a hose pick is rendered unnecessary, since the fingers can be inserted under the ears thus formed, which give a sufficient grip for hand pressure to open the couplings, even when under a considerable head.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4t, in which a single aw clamp C is shown detached, 0 is the axis of the pivot on which the aw turns. This pivot consists of a screw passing through cheek plates or lugs cast on the body of the coupling member A. The metal around it is disposed so as to afford ample strength to resist the strains encountered in practice and a tail piece is provided for the springs above referred to. Above the pivot line the body 0 extends in a carefully designed curve, terminating in the plane surface 0 the edge of which at c is curved to accommodate the peripheral curve of the member B. Above this edge the metal is thickened at 0 as the tendency to fracture is greatest at this point, but it will be noted that the outlines are long and gradual curves and apart from the edge 0, all sharp edges and corners are carefully avoided. The fact that all outside surfaces on this jaw are smooth curves will be evident from inspection of Fig. 2 in particular.

According to my present invention, I eX- tend the metal on both sides of the jaw as shown at 0. The outline of this extension is on a long outward curve from the pivotpoint, as shown at 0 in Fig. 2, and then on a short reverse curve as shown at 0 This curve is not only symmetrical in itself, but merges into the body and this idea is further carried outin the shape of the back of each projection, which is formed of compound curves so that the surface merges in all directions into that of the body. The inner face of each projection is made straight in cross section, to afford a proper grip for the fingers or other instrument.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a hose coupling, a pair of coupling members, and a coupling aw pivoted 011 one member so as to engage a coacting element on the other member, said jaw having all exposed surfaces formed in smooth curves, with the metal extended on both sides to form overhanging grips with curved backs, sub stantially as described.

2. A hose coupling composed of two cooperating members, with a seat in one member and a bearing face on the other, a pair of integral lugs on each Side of the first member, and a pair of jaws, one pivoted in each pair of lugs, the second member of the coupling having an annular flange adapted for engagement by the extremity of said jaws, each aw having an underlying spring to force it into such engagement, and each jaw also having curved extensions on each side forming grips for disengaging, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE B. CLAY. Vitnesses HnRvEY J. SHERER, HEPNER F. VAN HORN. 

